The antisemites and their defenders

The obsessions of Antisemites Most people do not understand antisemitism at all. The question “what did he say that was antisemitic” is one almost immediately encountered when challenging antisemites. But antisemitism is not just about individual acts – anti-Jewish hatred is a mindset. The antisemite carries a grossly distorted view of how things work. To an antisemite the world would be much better if only … Continue reading The antisemites and their defenders

Durban IV hatefest

Durban IV – The UK Government must withdraw – NOW!

In September, the United Nations gather to commemorate twenty years since the 2001 Durban conference. It is the fourth gathering of its type – hence Durban IV. The original conference in 2001 was a pivotal event in the spread of antisemitism throughout the west. If there is any truth to the Government’s stated position of taking the fight against antisemitism seriously – any truth at … Continue reading Durban IV – The UK Government must withdraw – NOW!

conservative government bashes Israel

The Conservative government dumps on Israel – again and again

The Conservative Government has an 80-seat majority. It means that for the first time in over a decade, we have a government with legroom. The signs were good. Boris has ridiculed the BDS movement and the Conservative party is publicly vocal about the anti-Israel bias in international forums such as the United Nations.  In June 2018, Boris attacked the UN Human Rights Council, calling the … Continue reading The Conservative government dumps on Israel – again and again

unrwa war of return

Palestinian refugees and UNRWA – it is time to tell the truth

In May 2016 I spoke at a panel event on the possibility of a two state solution. My talk focused on the key issue of the entire conflict – the reason the ‘Palestinian refugee’ situation can never end. At the time I called for the ridiculous definition of a Palestinian refugee to be thrown into the dustbin of history and for UNRWA to be scrapped … Continue reading Palestinian refugees and UNRWA – it is time to tell the truth

Gaza, Hamas and why I won’t be criticising Israel today

One of the reasons I won’t be criticising Israel today is because I am in London. I am not facing 40,000 rioters sent by Hamas to the Israeli border. Instead I am safely tucked away in a relatively secure part of the globe, with the armies of British enemies pushed back through centuries of brutal conflict. Even in the last two decades many have died … Continue reading Gaza, Hamas and why I won’t be criticising Israel today

November 2nd to November 29, Twenty-eight stepping stones to partition

On 2 November 2017 we celebrated the Balfour Declaration centenary. On the 29th November, we celebrate seventy years since UN resolution 181 – the United Nations ‘partition plan’. Looking at much of the discussion over Balfour, there is still clearly misunderstanding over the process that led to the creation of Israel. The Balfour Declaration was a stepping stone, an important point of recognition. Yet the … Continue reading November 2nd to November 29, Twenty-eight stepping stones to partition

University of Sussex, Palestine as Paradigm

The conference at the University of Sussex; a gathering of (mostly) idiots

I have just returned from a fascinating two-day conference at the University of Sussex. As someone who researches anti-Zionist forces in the UK, watching these people operate inside an arena so fraught with internal disagreement, made for a fascinating and educational outing. It spanned two full days and included around 50 speakers. The Sussex conference programme is available online. The framing of the University of … Continue reading The conference at the University of Sussex; a gathering of (mostly) idiots

antisemitism at UCC

The UCC, racism against Jews, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

It is Sunday 2/4/2017. It is the third and last day of the Cork anti-Israel conference. A meeting of people who have chosen to spend their lives fighting against the Jewish State. The most liberal, most free, and most democratic nation in the entire region. Today saw the conference move from Cork City Hall onto the University College Cork (UCC) Campus. Despite the UCC publicly … Continue reading The UCC, racism against Jews, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Atzmon, falk at the LSE

A sickness at the heart of Academia, blindness at the LSE

20th March 2017. The London School of Economics (LSE) in Holborn. I am at a book launch for Richard Falk’s latest collection of essays titled ‘Palestine’s Horizon’. Falk has been invited to the LSE as part of a larger promotional tour of the UK. Last week he was in Scotland. Today sees two events, at the LSE and the P21 Gallery in Euston. On Wednesday … Continue reading A sickness at the heart of Academia, blindness at the LSE

Why is there no State of Palestine?

100 years since Balfour, , 70 years since partition. Why is there no State of Palestine? There is no State of Palestine because after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, when the League of Nations used the Mandate system to facilitate the creation of Nation States, the Arabs living in the British Mandate of Palestine didn’t want one. There is no State of Palestine because … Continue reading Why is there no State of Palestine?